Ok, I've decided to splash out on a TFT flat monitor (no I don't need reminding that they're relatively crappy for gaming, but I'm not a massive gamer anyway). The case MUST be black. I've narrowed it down to two, and they are the following:

Iiyama E431S ProLite 17" TFT Black
http://www.savastore.com/products/produc...557&pid=44

Sharp LL171GB 17" TFT Black
http://www.savastore.com/products/produc...d=45&tid=2

Problem is, though I think the Sharp is better looking (and this is important to me), the Iiyama has got a faster response time (16ms, versus 20ms for the Sharp). Other than that they're as good as identical: 1280x1024 native res @ 75 mhz, DVI and VGA connectors, same price, etc etc.

So what does everyone reckon - should I take a hit in response time for a better-looking monitor? Or should I go for the ugly case with the faster response time? How much difference will 16ms versus 20ms make on today's TFT screens?

Looking forward to your input guys, cheers

Toms Hardware did a very comprehensive test of gaming-quality TFT displays recently. They also provided downloadable modded and calibrated .icm color profiles for some of the monitors used.
Be sure to take a look at the difference between the analog and digital input results if your video card has DVI output.
They both look like great monitors...

i'd go with the one with better response...
but how can you check that it really has that ms ?

don't listen to response time given by manufacturers !!
benchmarks show that most do lie ...
monitor pointed at 16ms have 40 or even more ... look out for real tests ... hope there are any for your moni

yeah Mertsch you're right, but I can't find any real tests for the Sharp LL-171G I'm looking at..! Google comes up with nothing, and nothing on Tom's Hardware either...

maybe the best thing you can do is to look for a real store who got monitors ...
or at least buy them only at store wherer you got the option on 14 day return ...

Viewsonic makes the best monitors period for everything flat or otherwise and have the best refresh rates for the monitors...

I will never use any other monitors period...

Just something to look into.

Be very cautious about claimed response times. Call the manufacturers and ask specifically what EACH response time is. Some manufacturers and sellers only post one response time (there isnt just one, actually), which mostly isnt even the sum of them all, just the best picked out. Some say their response time is 16ms, and actually its only one time that is 16. The actual summed up response time is for example around 30 or even higher sometimes.
And dont listen to people who say this or that monitor or manufacturer is the best. This subject is very relative. Go to a big shop where they have various monitors up for presentation and look at them for yourself!

Cant speak for the Sharp Monitor, but I do have the Iiyama E431S ProLite 17" TFT Black and have no problems with games i.e. Doom 3, RTCW, UT2004 etc also works great for watching DVD's no Ghosting etc.

As I do Graphics and Video Editing, I have had no problems at all.

Great Monitor for all round PC use.

£100 cheaper than I paid 6 months ago

Dr Bot (UK)

Dr Bot, you'll be glad to know I ordered the Prolite this afternoon Thanks everyone for the advice!